SOC 35-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bartenders — Washington
Washington · 10 metro areas compared
In Washington the median wage for Bartenders reaches $55,830 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington the median wage for Bartenders reaches $55,830 a year. That is 62.6% more than the national median of $34,340. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,930 and $62,900. The lowest tenth earn under $39,380, while the highest tenth earn more than $90,130.
Employment stands at 16,800, or 4.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Washington ranks 3rd by median wage. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $58,180. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 559th of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,380 | +14.7% |
| 25th | $47,930 | +39.6% |
| Median (50th) | $55,830 | +62.6% |
| 75th | $62,900 | +83.2% |
| 90th | $90,130 | +162.5% |
| Mean | $60,010 | +74.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $58,180 | 9,640 | |
| 2 | Mount Vernon | $56,640 | 270 | |
| 3 | Bellingham | $56,110 | 600 | |
| 4 | Kennewick | $55,820 | 600 | |
| 5 | Walla Walla | $54,030 | 120 | |
| 6 | Bremerton | $53,810 | 560 | |
| 7 | Spokane | $50,210 | 1,100 | |
| 8 | Olympia | $50,180 | 530 | |
| 9 | Longview | $49,930 | 210 | |
| 10 | Yakima | $49,700 | 350 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $55,830 buys what $52,178 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 51.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,178US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,830 a year, 62.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,380 to $90,130 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 16,800 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $58,180.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bartenders in Washington?
The median annual wage is $55,830, or $26.84 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $34,340, so pay in Washington is 62.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington earns more than $90,130 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,380 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Seattle, at $58,180 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 16,800 jobs in this occupation in Washington. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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